Difference between revisions of "2022 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 19"

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As in solution 1, we express the LHS as a sum under one common denominator. We note that <cmath>\frac{1}{1} + \frac{1}{2} + \dots + \frac{1}{17} = \frac{\frac{17!}{1}}{17!} + \frac{\frac{17!}{2}}{17!} + \frac{\frac{17!}{3}}{17!} + \dots + \frac{\frac{17!}{17}}{17!}</cmath>
 
As in solution 1, we express the LHS as a sum under one common denominator. We note that <cmath>\frac{1}{1} + \frac{1}{2} + \dots + \frac{1}{17} = \frac{\frac{17!}{1}}{17!} + \frac{\frac{17!}{2}}{17!} + \frac{\frac{17!}{3}}{17!} + \dots + \frac{\frac{17!}{17}}{17!}</cmath>
  
Now, we have <math>h = L_{17}\left(\frac{\frac{17!}{1} + \frac{17!}{2} + \frac{17!}{3} + \dots + \frac{17!}{17}}{17!}\right)</math>. We'd like to find <math>h \pmod{17},</math> so we can evaluate our expression <math>\pmod{17}.</math> Since <math>\frac{\frac{17!}{1}}{17!}, \frac{\frac{17!}{2}}{17!}, \dots, \frac{\frac{17!}{16}}{17!}</math> are all integers, and since <math>L_{17}</math> is a multiple of <math>17,</math> multiplying each of those terms and adding them will get a multiple of <math>17.</math> Mod 17, that result is <math>0.</math> Thus, we only need to consider <math>L_{17}\cdot \frac{\frac{17!}{17}}{17!} = \frac{L_{17}}{17} \pmod{17}.</math> Proceed with solution <math>1</math> to get <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C) 5}</math>.
+
Now, we have <math>h = L_{17}\left(\frac{\frac{17!}{1} + \frac{17!}{2} + \frac{17!}{3} + \dots + \frac{17!}{17}}{17!}\right)</math>. We'd like to find <math>h \pmod{17},</math> so we can evaluate our expression <math>\pmod{17}.</math> Since <math>\frac{\frac{17!}{1}}{17!}, \frac{\frac{17!}{2}}{17!}, \dots, \frac{\frac{17!}{16}}{17!}</math> are all integers, and since <math>L_{17}</math> is a multiple of <math>17,</math> multiplying each of those terms and adding them will get a multiple of <math>17.</math> Mod 17, that result is <math>0.</math> Thus, we only need to consider <math>L_{17}\cdot \frac{\frac{17!}{17}}{17!} = \frac{L_{17}}{17} \pmod{17}.</math> Proceed with solution <math>1</math> to get <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C) 5}}</math>.
  
 
~sirswagger21
 
~sirswagger21

Revision as of 08:46, 17 November 2022

Problem

Define $L_n$ as the least common multiple of all the integers from $1$ to $n$ inclusive. There is a unique integer $h$ such that \[\frac{1}{1}+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3}\ldots+\frac{1}{17}=\frac{h}{L_{17}}\] What is the remainder when $h$ is divided by $17$?

$\textbf{(A) } 1 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 3 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 5 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 7 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 9$

Solution

Notice that $L_{17}$ contains the highest power of every prime below $17$. Thus, $L_{17}=16\cdot 9 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13 \cdot 17$.

When writing the sum under a common fraction, we multiply the denominators by $L_{17}$ divided by each denominator. However, since $L_{17}$ is a multiple of $17$, all terms will be a multiple of $17$ until we divide out $17$, and the only term that will do this is $\frac{1}{17}$. Thus, the remainder of all other terms when divided by $17$ will be $0$, so the problem is essentially asking us what the remainder of $\frac{L_{17}}{17}$ divided by $17$ is. This is equivalent to finding the remainder of $16 \cdot 9 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13$ divided by $17$.

We use modular arithmetic to simplify our answer:

This is congruent to $-1 \cdot 9 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13 \pmod{17}$

Evaluating, we get: \begin{align*} (-1) \cdot 9 \cdot 35 \cdot 11 \cdot 13 &\equiv (-1) \cdot 9 \cdot 1 \cdot 11 \cdot 13 \pmod{17} \\ &\equiv 9 \cdot 11 \cdot (-13) \pmod{17} \\ &\equiv 9 \cdot 11 \cdot 4\pmod{17} \\ &\equiv 2 \cdot 11 \pmod{17} \\ &\equiv 5\pmod{17} \end{align*} Therefore the remainder is $\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 5}$.

~KingRavi

~mathboy282

~Scarletsyc

Solution 2

As in solution 1, we express the LHS as a sum under one common denominator. We note that \[\frac{1}{1} + \frac{1}{2} + \dots + \frac{1}{17} = \frac{\frac{17!}{1}}{17!} + \frac{\frac{17!}{2}}{17!} + \frac{\frac{17!}{3}}{17!} + \dots + \frac{\frac{17!}{17}}{17!}\]

Now, we have $h = L_{17}\left(\frac{\frac{17!}{1} + \frac{17!}{2} + \frac{17!}{3} + \dots + \frac{17!}{17}}{17!}\right)$. We'd like to find $h \pmod{17},$ so we can evaluate our expression $\pmod{17}.$ Since $\frac{\frac{17!}{1}}{17!}, \frac{\frac{17!}{2}}{17!}, \dots, \frac{\frac{17!}{16}}{17!}$ are all integers, and since $L_{17}$ is a multiple of $17,$ multiplying each of those terms and adding them will get a multiple of $17.$ Mod 17, that result is $0.$ Thus, we only need to consider $L_{17}\cdot \frac{\frac{17!}{17}}{17!} = \frac{L_{17}}{17} \pmod{17}.$ Proceed with solution $1$ to get $\boxed{\textbf{(C) 5}}$.

~sirswagger21

Video Solution By ThePuzzlr

https://youtu.be/TGcGamPXdNc

~ MathIsChess

See Also

2022 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 18
Followed by
Problem 20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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